In Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, various citations can be found employing satirical techniques, assisting in the formation of a satirical novel. One such citation is when John the Savage argues with Mustapha Mond over freedom: “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.” Using two distinct techniques, the quote is infused with satire and therefore is not to be considered literally.
The first of the two techniques is exaggeration. The three statements in the citation that prominently reflect the exaggeration are "But I don't want comfort," "I want real danger," and "I want sin." Both Huxley and the Savage overstate these assertions in that during the time period of Brave New World society did want comfort and did not want danger or sin, and the reader can see from the Savage's life that he too wants comfort and does not actually want danger or sin either. John the Savage, in actuality, just wants the option of comfort, danger, and sin. Having the option of these three concepts is having freedom through freedom of choice. If a person is not even allowed a choice between having comfort and not having comfort, then that person truly is not free. Usually, the technique of exaggeration is used to produce humor, but in this Juvenalian satire it is used for another purpose. John the Savage uses the exaggeration in his frustration towards Mustapha Mond's idea of freedom. The Savage wants to prove his point that his old-world morals are what actually allow true freedom. Huxley uses the exaggeration as a way to startle the society and make them see that the option of discomfort, danger, and sin is better than no option at all.
The second of the two techniques is paradox. This technique is obvious when the Savage argues that he wants God and goodness and then right afterwards says he also wants sin. The contradiction in this paradox confuses the reader because of its absurdness. If one were were to read the citation literally, he/she would wonder how the Savage could want good and evil at the same time. But because of the paradox, the reader recognizes the satire and knows not to take the citation literally. When the reader realizes the satire, he/she finds that the paradoxical citation is actually well founded. John the Savage wants the option of good and evil in order to have true freedom. The paradox proves to be a worthy arguement against Mustapha Mond's fake freedom.
Huxley's Brave New World is a powerful Juvenalian satire that uses strong satirical techniques in order to impact the society so that they will change their possible future. With the help of exaggeration and paradox, John the Savage's argument against Mustapha Mond is a key passage which gives a powerful message showing how important the society's "old-world" morals actually are; that having the option of right and wrong, of good and evil, is having freedom. This message for the society would not be possible with a literal understanding of the book, which is why the satire is powerful and largely influential to Brave New World's meaning.
The first of the two techniques is exaggeration. The three statements in the citation that prominently reflect the exaggeration are "But I don't want comfort," "I want real danger," and "I want sin." Both Huxley and the Savage overstate these assertions in that during the time period of Brave New World society did want comfort and did not want danger or sin, and the reader can see from the Savage's life that he too wants comfort and does not actually want danger or sin either. John the Savage, in actuality, just wants the option of comfort, danger, and sin. Having the option of these three concepts is having freedom through freedom of choice. If a person is not even allowed a choice between having comfort and not having comfort, then that person truly is not free. Usually, the technique of exaggeration is used to produce humor, but in this Juvenalian satire it is used for another purpose. John the Savage uses the exaggeration in his frustration towards Mustapha Mond's idea of freedom. The Savage wants to prove his point that his old-world morals are what actually allow true freedom. Huxley uses the exaggeration as a way to startle the society and make them see that the option of discomfort, danger, and sin is better than no option at all.
The second of the two techniques is paradox. This technique is obvious when the Savage argues that he wants God and goodness and then right afterwards says he also wants sin. The contradiction in this paradox confuses the reader because of its absurdness. If one were were to read the citation literally, he/she would wonder how the Savage could want good and evil at the same time. But because of the paradox, the reader recognizes the satire and knows not to take the citation literally. When the reader realizes the satire, he/she finds that the paradoxical citation is actually well founded. John the Savage wants the option of good and evil in order to have true freedom. The paradox proves to be a worthy arguement against Mustapha Mond's fake freedom.
Huxley's Brave New World is a powerful Juvenalian satire that uses strong satirical techniques in order to impact the society so that they will change their possible future. With the help of exaggeration and paradox, John the Savage's argument against Mustapha Mond is a key passage which gives a powerful message showing how important the society's "old-world" morals actually are; that having the option of right and wrong, of good and evil, is having freedom. This message for the society would not be possible with a literal understanding of the book, which is why the satire is powerful and largely influential to Brave New World's meaning.